Willy T and Burke hustle the Astros to two more runs

If Willy Taveras doesn’t start on Tuesday when the Astros resume play, there is something seriously wrong with this club. Given a rare start, he is taking full advantage today.

Adam Everett led off the eighth with a single to center. With pinch hitter Orlando Palmeiro at the plate, Everett stole second and reached third on catcher Paul Lo Duca’s errant attempt to throw him out at second. After Palmeiro grounded out to short, Taveras drove in Everett in with a single down the left field side. Taveras stole second and reached third Mike Lamb’s groundout to second. Chris Burke followed with a dribbler toward the right side of the mound.

Reliever Aaron Heilman fielded the ball cleanly and slowly trotted toward first as Burke sprinted down the line. Instead of tossing the ball to first for the easy out or sprinting to the bag, his effort was exposed as Burke raced in ahead of him for the infield, RBI single that put the Astros ahead 7-4.

The Astros are playing with a sense of urgency today, and it’s paying off.